The Lawyers of Zuber & Taillieu LLP

J Ryan Smith, Esq.

Of Counsel

Mr. Smith’s practice focuses entirely on transactional work in the entertainment industry, and more particularly, on the film, television, publishing, music, and sports industries. Mr. Smith was hired directly out of law school as Director of Administration and Counsel for the National Football League’s Jacksonville Jaguars. He then entered private practice, first practicing corporate law at one of top twenty law firms in the country as ranked by revenue by the American Lawyer, then specializing more specifically in entertainment law at one of New York City’s largest and most respected entertainment law firms.

During his career, Mr. Smith has represented well-known production and distribution companies, as well as top producers, directors, writers, and performers. Mr. Smith is also an accomplished public speaker in the area of entertainment law, having participated as a panelist and moderator on a wide range of entertainment industry panels, including “Understanding Independent Film Production and Financing,” “From Print to Screen: Acquiring Rights to Literary Properties,” “The Art of Structuring and Negotiating the Feature Film Producer Deal,” and “Legal and Business Issues in Book Publishing.” Mr. Smith has also presented the seminar “What’s in a Television Deal” for the New York County Lawyers Association, and has served as a member of the Advisory Board of the Independent Feature Project’s Independent Feature Film Market, and as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of The Armory Track and Field Center in New York City.

Education:

Columbia University School of Law
J.D., 1997

Syracuse University
B.A., 1992
Major:  Political Science

Temple University of Japan
Study Abroad, 1991-1992
Major:  International Politics and Japanese

Bar Admissions:

New York
Florida
U.S. District Court Central District of California

 
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